Su Qing froze, clutching her phone as she stared at the young man beneath the window.
The bright light gave her excellent vision, allowing her to see the faintest hint of a smile on his face.
Neither of them spoke, their faces caressed by the quiet breeze, so close.
A long moment passed.
Su Qing batted her eyelashes and pursed her lips gently. "You've been here a long time."
She used such a declarative sentence. No wonder he'd answered her call instantly. If not, he might have arrived so early.
"No, I just got here a while ago."
The two of them were like idiots, still on the phone even though they were so close.
Su Qing lowered her head. The distance between their two homes was about half an hour, which proved that Jiang Sui finished the paper more than half an hour faster than she did.
Back then, he had been so serious about asking for her feedback.
"Then..."
That promise.
"Qing Qing, I'll promise to whatever you say. However, I have something else I'd like you to promise to."
The young man seemed to know what she was about to say, and gently interrupted her, looking up at her.
"What's that?"
Su Qing lowered her head, her voice a little weak. Unaware of Jiang Sui's gaze, her heart fluttered, and her fingers inexplicably clenched around her phone.
"I miss you. I want to hug you."
His eyes were fixed on Su Qing. The boy was wearing a thin coat, the hem of which was swirling in the wind, as he spoke these thrilling words.
Su Qing paused for a few seconds before hearing another sentence.
"You just now said you missed me, too. Don't you want to hug me?"
The boy's pupils were dark as he stared at Su Qing. Su Qing pursed her lips, feeling her cheeks flush with embarrassment.
She did remember what she had just said.
She lowered her head in silence, then looked at Jiang Sui, hung up the phone, and mouthed, "Wait a minute," to the boy downstairs.
Su Qing didn't know how she'd walked the distance from her home to the doorway to Jiang Sui's presence.
She whispered softly, slowly, slowly, with a surge of impatience in her heart.
The moment she softly pushed the door open, Su Qing's fingers were grasped by the boy's strong arms.
"Qing Qing."
The creaking of the door nearly startled Su Qing. After she emerged, she quickly covered Jiang Sui's mouth.
"Shh..."
Su Rao had always been a light sleeper, and she didn't want to wake her... nor could she.
The thumping, thumping sound of her heartbeat stained Su Qing's face, a faint blush, like a flower's pink.
Blushing, ready to bloom.
Su Qing felt a gentle kiss on her palm, and then, somewhat bewilderedly, she let go of Jiang Sui.
"Jiang Sui..."
The sound of her calling him was like a cat scratching an itch.
The boy put his arm around her waist and held her under the streetlight, then let her go.
Su Qing was in such a hurry to leave that she was still wearing her thin pajamas.
After Jiang Sui released her, her face flushed. She was used to wearing pajamas at home, so, so…
She pursed her lips, saying nothing.
"Qing Qing, did you miss me?"
This was Su Qing's answer to Jiang Sui: she missed him, and then he came.
The boy seemed to see the girl's embarrassment.
He bent his knees slightly, then lowered his head, bringing it right into Su Qing's sight.
"Why, you're so shy? What will happen in the future..."
Su Qing's face flushed even more as he uttered these words. She bit her lip, angrily accusing him.
"Jiang Sui...!"
What was he talking about? So unreserved.
"Okay, I won't tease you anymore. It's cold outside. Let's go back."
Jiang Sui stroked Su Qing's head, his eyes unnaturally gentle. He spoke softly to her, looking out at the wind. It was a bit chilly; she was wearing far too little.
Su Qing sniffed and looked up.
She was a little surprised that Jiang Sui had asked her to go back. Didn't he miss her? He'd just hugged her for a moment and then told her to go back? It really wasn't like him.
The moment the girl looked up, he was amused. The surprise and reluctance in her eyes were all caught by Jiang Sui.
He pinched Su Qing's fingers.
"It's too cold outside. You'll catch a cold. I know my Nannan is reluctant to leave me."
The boy's voice, as clear as the wind, drifted into Su Qing's ears.
Her ears immediately blushed.
"Jiang Sui...!"
She looked at him, stamping her foot in anger.
"I'm just teasing you. Go back home! It's too cold outside."
Unable to resist the adorable sight of the girl, Jiang Sui leaned over and hugged Su Qing again, then released her and gestured for her to return.
Su Qing pursed her lips and blinked. As the boy hugged her, she quietly extended her wrist, then quickly lowered it.
"Then I'll go home now."
It was already too late, and indeed a little chilly, but Su Qing's heart was warm at that moment, a warmth coursing through her body.
"Okay."
The young man nodded, watching Su Qing open the door and go in.
After Su Qing closed the door, her heart throbbed, a frightening thump, threatening to burst out of her throat.
Just as she reached the living room, she encountered Su Rao coming down from the stairs. Su's mother looked at her daughter.
"Qing Qing, why aren't you asleep yet?"
Su Qing jumped in shock, then the blush faded immediately. She pinched her fingers, her head spinning, and pointed toward the toilet.
"I went to the toilet, Mom."
Luckily, the toilet and kitchen were both in the courtyard. Su Qing, still apprehensive, watched as her mother nodded, then turned and went back. Her heart pounded uncomfortably.
She quickly returned to her room and closed the door.
She remained in shock for a long time, having almost been discovered. She lowered her brows, feeling a wave of mixed emotions.
She stood up and poked her head outside. She saw the boy still standing under the streetlight, still there, looking up at the window.
Just as Su Qing was startled, the phone screen lit up.
"Jiang Sui, why haven't you left yet? Hurry go back home! It's so cold."
He just said he was cold, but he wasn't wearing much at all.
"I thought you, the heartless little one, had forgotten about me. I left when see you go inside home."
Su Qing listened to the voice on the phone, pursed her lips, and silently looked at the person under the streetlight. He waved at her.
Then he slowly began to walk backwards.
"Jiang Sui, watch the road!"
Although they were the only family on this street, walking backwards was still extremely dangerous. Su Qing frowned.
"Keep the windows closed, and you sleep on the bed."
Is he bargaining with her?
Su Qing replied, "Okay."